It’s time to dust off your swatch and get your Members Only jacket drycleaned, because RADwood Austin is coming back to Circuit of the Americas in two weeks. If you’re anywhere within a 2,000-mile radius (i.e., within Texas), you should be at COTA on November 15th for all the fun. If you’ve got a great car from the era, then I’m sure you’re already signed up, but let’s have a little fun and try to imagine what the perfect car would be.
And, since there’s a sweet fashion contest, bonus points for being able to match the perfect outfit with the perfect car. As someone who grew up in Texas in the ’80s and ’90s, this hits me pretty hard, and I have a lot of ideas. I look at some of the totally tubular rides at last year’s event, and I can almost taste the 400 grams I inhaled with each bowl of Rainbow Brite back then.
My initial thought was an SSP Fox Body Mustang, and The Bishop’s piece on that patrol car took me back to the days I used to help my dad look out for the Dr. Pepper Squad hiding out behind billboards on Highway 59. That, plus a period-correct uniform, would be great.
However, there’s one even rarer truck you’d sometimes see on Texas roads growing up, and the sight of one never failed to make my head snap. I’m talking, of course, about the Mexican-market Dodge Ramcharger. This is a second-generation Dodge Ram done up as an SUV. Not only does it have the incredible “big rig” style hood, it’s also a two-door for some reason?
These allegedly existed with both a four-speed manual and Dodge’s beloved 5.9-liter V8, though I’m not 100% sure you could get both. The smaller V8 with the manual would still be quite excellent.
That, and dressing up like Edward James Olmos from Selena with the overpatterned short-sleeved collared tee and whiskey-colored glasses would be perfect. It takes me back to my days growing up in Corpus Christi.
Now it’s your turn. What’s the perfect RADwood Austin ride/outfit combo?
And, as a reminder from Hagerty, who is partnering with us on this post:
Celebrate the 80s & 90s at RADwood AustinBust out the Ray-Bans and crank up the mixtape because RADwood® Austin is back at Circuit of The Americas for our 6th annual bash — and it’s gonna be totally bodacious.Get ready for wicked rides from the ’80s and ’90s, killer jams straight out of your Walkman days, and a fashion contest glow-up that’s bigger and badder than ever before. We’re leveling up with VIP hospitality, expanded awards, and plenty more rad surprises.November 15 | 11am – 3:30pm CT
Circuit of The Americas | Austin, TX
Also let me know in the comments if you’re already planning to go!
Top photo: Hagerty
1983 Chevrolet Citation X11 – dark brown/tan 2 tone.
Puffy Ski Jacket – light blue
Gameboy – mild screen burn
Big Gulp – sweating
A 1984 Chrysler Laser XE Turbo. Preferably chocolate brown, like the one I used to own, but silver like the one Kenny Rogers drives in the “We Are The World” documentary would work too.
That’s easy, Dodge Dakota Sport convertible.
My vote would go to the 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme International Series Sedan 3.4 Twin Dual Cam V6
Or failing that… a 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais International Series Sedan 2.3 Quad 4
Why?
To win the ‘longest model name’ competition.
I live in Central Texas now (formerly North Texas) and was excited that I would be close enough to Austin to day-trip to RADwood. So of course that’s the one Saturday I work this month. Ugh
Start coughing now. Bring eye drops to work to make your eyes water. Sniff a tiny amount of white pepper every day for the next 9 days.
Call in sick on the 14th. We’ll see you there.
If I had a different job, I totally would. But I work Parts at a dealership and will literally be the only person at work on “my” Saturday. One of the service writers got fired when he had someone lined up to work “his” Saturday and they flaked.
The dankest, skankiest, jankest Nissan 240SX you can find.
The obvious choice of car given the reference to Matt Houston is a1982 Excalibur Phaeton IV. And you better be rocking an impressive mustache to go with that black Members Only jacket.
On Swangas, please
There are cars that are distinctly 80’s, such as the W8 Vector, but the ‘perfect’ car would be the one I wanted to drive there and back, while still being iconic. 288 GTO? Countach Quattrovalvole? 930 Turbo or a 959? I had a poster back then with those three cars, captioned, “Decisions, decisions, decisions…” It stuck with me. Older me would choose a Testarossa, Porsche 928, or BMW e28 M5.
A triple-black 560SL
You be Madonna – I’ll be Sean Penn.
https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/19466/lot/328/given-to-madonna-by-sean-penn1987-mercedes-benz-560sl-convertible-chassis-no-wdbba48d6ha064424/
Clearly it’s a Bronco II